Freshman Fillies Meet In Epsom

A good-looking field of nine 2yo fillies have entered this week’s Knights Bluff Stakes. They will be going six furlongs on turf for a purse of $85,000. Let’s examine the runners in post position order.

In post one at 3/1 is Mr. Men(AUS). I am reasonably familiar with this athletic Flying Spur(AUS) filly, having run against her at least once before. She loves to go right for the lead. She has lead in every race save one. She has one stakes victory, and has placed in three others, with her best speed figure being the 83 she ran in her trip to the winner’s circle. The only mark against her today is that she seems to have a good race/bad race pattern, and her last one was a good one.

In post two at 8/1 is Siraneena(AUS). I have run against this Niello(AUS) daughter as well. She has not won a stakes yet, but has improved in every race, placing in two stakes and running fourth in a G3 last time out. She gets ace jockey R. Harzheim for this race, and he will be gunning her for the front also. A repeat of her last two speed figures will have her right there at the end, although I expect she will improve once again and break the 80 mark this time. Very good value at 8/1.

In post three at 13/1 is Bergys Alberta(AUS). A daughter of Mr. Innocent(AUS), she won her debut last time out with a very nice move from mid-pack to score by a nose with a 77 speed figure. An average jockey up may not help her much, but if she can repeat her performance with so many frontrunners here, we could have a logjam of Australian-breds at the wire.

In post four at 6/1 is Counterfeit God. This youngster by Aljabr also won her debut and moved right into stakes competition, finishing third in her first stakes race. She has a stalking style and will most likely lie in wait right behind the frontrunners…probably an ideal place to be in this race. There is plenty of speed in her pedigree, yet her first two were run at 7f. She may appreciate shortening up a bit, and has a nice jockey in T. Nugent.

In post five at 4/1 is the royally bred La Santa Cruz. She is by Aldebaran with Mr. Prospector and Danehill on her dam’s side. She also won her debut, and placed in all three stakes she has run in since then. This is the first time she has odds as high as 4/1. She has shown an ability to run either on or off the lead, which may help her here. Her speed figures have also seemed to have a good race/bad race type of pattern, and with an average jockey and being on her bad race cycle, she will need to have heart to get there first in this one.

In post six we have another royally bred filly at 4/1. French Afleet is by Afleet with Mr. Prospector and Danehill on her dam’s side. She began her career on dirt, winning her debut and running in an allowance, then switched to turf, where, after showing that she liked turf in an allowance, she was quickly moved up to stakes level, finishing second with an 82 and just missing by 1/4 length. She also will be gunning for the lead, and if she repeats her last effort, could spoil the show for the Australian-bred trio.

In post seven at 6/1 is Exbourne’s Lookout. She is by Elnadim and based on the stakeswinning Seeking The Gold horse, Rizzo G. Purchased in the auction for over $1 million by current owner grade1win, she has won both of her starts for her new trainer, including an impressive stakes victory last time out. Obviously, whatever he did is working, or perhaps she just needed more time to mature, but either way, she could remain undefeated for her new connections, as the 78 she ran in her 3-1/2 length victory last time out may have been even higher had she been challenged. I would like her chances better, though, if she wasn’t yet another filly that wants the lead.

In post eight at 11/1 is Decision(AUS). A striking chestnut, she is by Redoute’s Choice(AUS) out of the Our Emblem mare, Mark Of Excellence II. Although she is stakes-placed at both today’s distance and at a mile, I have a feeling she may be better with more ground to work with. She did win from a stalking position in her maiden victory, though, and if she can rate here and not get into a speed duel up front, she certainly could do better than her odds indicate. Able jockey C. Jericho will be in the irons.

Rounding out the field in post nine at 9/1 is White Rock(IRE). She is by Rock Of Gibraltar(IRE) and has Miswaki and Silver Ghost on her dam’s side. She showed improvement in each of her races, not counting a try on dirt which she didn’t like so well. The best thing she has going for her here is that she is a natural closer, and if she fires and the expected speed duel takes place up front, she could get a piece or even surprise and do quite well. She has a very good jockey in A. Edwards.

That is our field. It looks like quite a competitive group! I will not even attempt to predict who will come out on top, as there is not a filly in here that doesn’t have a chance to shine. Good luck to all the runners, and may they all come back sound.